February 19th, 2008
Time Flies.
I have been thinking lately about how quickly time passes. The day is finished before I have done all that I set out to do. Funnily enough I came across this quote at the Small Business Diva blog:
“The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.” Michael Althsuler.
Well if I am piloting my day, why am I doing such a bad job of it? I am organised. I have lists. I have tools. I have targets. What goes wrong?
After a little thought I may have identified the top time wasters of my day. See how many you identify with. Perhaps it might help you to change the way we work.
1. Forums / instant messengers. Why do I leave myself ‘available’ all the time when I know it will only encourage chat?
2. Stray interruptions - visitors, telephone calls etc. How rude is it to put up a sign with my ‘visiting hours between….’ information on it, seeing as I work from home?
3. Daily life - supermarket shopping, school drop offs/pickups and so on. I know it has to be done but why during the only 24 hours of the day that I have?
4. Shared computer. “No, I will not let you use it! Oh, OK just for a minute. ” Tap, tap, tap, sigh…..
5. Paperwork. I am so slow at accounting! If I didn’t love the taxman so much (cough splutter) I wouldn’t do it.
6. Messy desk. Where is that note? I know it was here yesterday.
7. Too much time at the computer. Doesn’t looking at the screen all day make you tired? You are getting very sleeeeppppyyyy….
8. Reading. Well, there are a lot of interesting blogs out there. They are educational. (What a good excuse that is!)
9. Online shopping. I had a brilliant idea for a gadget that might solve all these problems. Perhaps I should hunt one down? While I am at it, why not just check out the online mags too…….
10. Games. There is a whole world out there on the internet that involves playing seriously addictive games. For some unidentifiable reason they are usually listed as time wasters. Go on. Do a search for Time Wasters and see what you find!
Image: Readers Digest
The hard part now is making some changes to gradually eliminate all those distractions and regain some time in my day. If you are making changes too then I wish us both luck.
Let me know how you get on.
Comments
I had the same problem last year and for 2 weeks I kept a log of what I spent my time I (even though I was sure I knew). Surprisingly, it was all the little things - 5 minute tasks - that added up and took away from the main things I wanted to achieve each day. Things like replying to emails as they arrive, ‘just a few minutes’ on this or that forum, a quick look at this great looking site. So now I’ve become a lot stricter - well, a little bit stricter - and it’s helped immensely. And when I’m surfing the net (surfing is counted as exercise, isn’t it?? I should be getting 30 minutes minimum each day?) or on business forums, I set the timer for 30 mins or 1 hour, or whatever time I feel I can reasonably allow. As for all the errands and driving kids around, I’m still working on that one. Good luck!
Donna-Marie
February 19th, 2008
Thanks Donna-Marie. I think I will need it!
admin
February 19th, 2008
Having lists, tools and targets is a great start, but it you’re like most people, there are too many things on the to-do list and not enough time, no matter how focused you are. I can suggest using a highlighter pen on that list. At the start of the day, highlight the top 5 most important things. Then go to it. Reward your efforts, and then mark the next 5 things and do them. You’ll be just as busy, but far more effective.
Good luck!
Angela Esnouf
February 23rd, 2008
Hi Angela. Thanks for the visit. Your tip is great. For anyone really struggling to organise themselves go and visit Angela’s site. She is an organising queen.
admin
February 24th, 2008